Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Roadside Bench to Coffee Table - COMPLETED!


Well I FINALLY finished this coffee table/foot rest and let me tell you, I may have a hard time even USING this because I am so tired of looking at it – well, okay, maybe I WILL use it out of spite for all of the cut fingers, headaches, sleepless nights and the time it cost me to finish this project!! (Here is Part 1 of this project)

The painting was easy – it was the upholstering that drove me to the brink!  But I’ll get to that!

 
When I posted last week about this, I had finished the primer.  The next step was two coats of Behr Polished Pearl which I applied with a brush to cover all of the details and the spindles BUT, I would then immediately go over each area with a sponge roller with just a tiny bit of paint on it.  This helped remove any brush strokes and gave a nice, smooth look.

 
After these dried completely I sanded and distressed the bench.  This really helped bring out all of the nice details on it.




 

 
Using a clean rag, I applied Varathane Pecan Wood Stain working in small sections and then immediately wiping off with another clean cloth which then really high-lighted all of the distressed areas nicely.  Finally, I applied one coat of Varathane Polycrylic.  And as I said earlier, THAT was the easy part.






 
 
Next came upholstering.  I knew I wanted this to have a nice, big cushion (unlike the original) but I did not want to pay 16.00 for a piece of foam at the fabric store.  So I kept scouring the thrift stores and finally I found a pillow form that was the exact size I needed.  It was not a typical form – it was FOAM which meant it was nice and firm and the best part was – it cost me $3.00!  At the same thrift store I found a package with these two large pieces of batting for $1.00!  


 
I wrapped the pillow form like a package with the two pieces of batting and stitched it together.


At that same thrift store, they had just gotten a shipment of upholstery fabric remnants and I got this 54” X 2 yard piece for $2.00!!  After several different tries at figuring out how to make this look nice, ripping it off and starting over with a different method and laying awake at night trying to figure it out (and I won’t bore you with all of the different things I tried!) I finally figured out that a staple gun was not going to work but extra sharp nails would.  I went side to side, corner to corner and then began tacking down all of the edges with the nails.


And just when I thought I was "home free", I had a TERRIBLE time finding roping or decorative braid that matched!!  Finally at JoAnn's I found this braid which I had to remove from the twill tape because they didn't have it just as roping.







And here she is, in front of my couch waiting for the coffee tray I still haven't found yet.  I like the idea of having something that serves as a foot rest and coffee table.  
BEFORE
 
AFTER

I do have an idea of what to do with the “twin” now but it sure isn’t going to be like this one . . . stay tuned!




34 comments:

  1. How beautiful! You did such a great job, love it!

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  2. The rustic look and the new material look great! Thaks for linking it to Workshop Wednesday

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  3. You did a great job. I love the lines and your choices for paint and fabric.

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  4. Hi Lauren that turned out fantastic! Thanks for sharing at my newbie party.

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  5. Wow- this is one great transformation. You should be very proud of your work! Love the swag details on this bench. :-) Visiting from Linda's party. ~ Sue

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  6. Wow! It looks great!

    Megan
    mommyminded.blogspot.com

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  7. Wow! What an amazing makeover! I love seeing the before and after pics together, you must too! All that work.... it was so worth it! X

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  8. Beautiful!
    The one I was telling you that I found was soo much smaller than that... like a tiny ottoman.

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  9. Hello Lauren! The transformation was great. I love it. The furniture looks so classic and elegant :)

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  10. Hi Lauren! It's such fun to make something old new again. I love the style and can't wait to see what you do with the twin.

    Helen of Helen's Decor

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  11. I love the results - This is amazing - looking forward to seeing what you do with the other one,
    Kathy

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  12. What a cute foot rest! I love a good road side find!

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  13. it looks great in your room! i am always on the lookout for a little foot stool that we can tuck under the sofa in the sunroom, but nothing fits. i wish the boyfriend would just make us one, ugh. this looks so super comfy.

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  14. Wow, what a great makeover. That is a beautiful piece of furniture and you still did it justice! I cannot believe that someone put that out to the curb. Really looks great. I'm visiting from Debbydoos party...I'm a newbie as well- also your newest follower, hoping you will follow me back!

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  15. Bravo!! It turned out beautifully!! Worth any headaches it may have caused you!!!

    Big TX Hugs,
    Stephanie
    Angelic Accents

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  16. Wow...that looks amazing!! Isn't it neat how God provides even the "little" things! :)

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  17. Visiting from Nifty Thrifty. What a great find and makeover! I love your bench turned coffee table.

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  18. This is lovely! Linking this up with us made the Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop better and more special. Thank you!

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  19. WOW! Great job! That looks wonderful! What an awesome re-make! Thanks so much for linking to It's Stinkin' Cute Craft Thursdays!

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  20. I just love how you came to the name of your blog, I'm your newest follower,,such a beautiful transformation, the foot stool is lovely.

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  21. I love the shape and colors of this! You did a great job!

    Thanks so much for linking up to "20 Below Thursday"! :)

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  22. Great work and I am sure a lot of it. Looks so much better.

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  23. Lovely job! The bench turned out so cute!

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  24. I love the finished bench!!!! Great job. See I knew you could do it. Can't wait to see the "twin"

    Laurie

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  25. Love this! What a cool footstool! Great work, I'd love for you to stop by my blog sometime, www.icantstopcrafting.blogspot.com

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  26. Lauren,
    That turned out really nice. I love the white and new seat. Thanks for linking it up! I see the party on the sidebar, that's fine. Thanks!
    Sherry

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  27. This is cute! Very creative, I wish I could find this in the trash. Thanks for linking up at Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop

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  28. You better use this lbor of love! I am going to feature it this week @ Workshop Wednesday! Stop by and grab a featured button!

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  29. Wow! What an amazing makeover! I love seeing the before and after pics together, you must too! All that work.... it was so worth it!
    Thanks for post..

    z rest footrest

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  30. Adorable. I love finding things on the side of the road to revamp, repurpose or redo. Great job.

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